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Why should I connect with my CSF College Success Coach?

You did it! You graduated from high school and successfully made it to college. The years ahead will be incredible, but you may encounter challenges. That’s where we come in. 

CSF College Success Coaches are available to provide FREE one-on-one support to you throughout your college journey, much like your CSF Advisor in high school. Depending on which Washington state college you attend, our coaches are available online or on-campus to serve as a trusted personal resource.

Connecting with your coach means you will be taking a positive step forward in building your knowledge and skills, cultivating self-efficacy, and enhancing your sense of support and belonging. Our goal is to help you make the most of your college experience. Here are some benefits you’ll receive once enrolled in College Services:

  • Access to a CSF College Success & Completion Coach
    • Your CSF College Coach will partner with you to help you successfully navigate college and achieve your goals
    • You can establish a meeting frequency with your coach that works for you
  • Community & Sense of belonging
    • College Services staff facilitate school / region specific events and activities that you’ll be invited to join. These are great opportunities to form new connections with peers. 
  • Access to CSF’s Emergency Fund Request application
    • Students enrolled in College Services can apply for up to $500 per academic year from our Emergency Fund Request (EFR) application. If you experience an unexpected financial emergency that impacts your ability to stay enrolled in college, you can submit an application. Our aim is to provide quick financial support when and where it is most needed.
  • Staying in-the-know on important college topics, deadlines and opportunities such as:
    • Scholarship / Internship / Job opportunities
    • Tips / strategies on how to navigate different areas of college life
    • FAFSA / WASFA reminders
  • Invitations to join webinars and workshops just for CSF Scholars throughout the year. Past workshops include: 
    • Managing stress & anxiety in college
    • Money management and budgeting strategies
    • Financial aid & FAFSA/WASFA completion events
    • Navigating college as a first-gen student
  • Remaining eligible to apply for CSF’s Leadership 1000 Scholarship as a college student


What do CSF College Success Coaches do?

Think of your CSF College Success Coach as your partner in helping you achieve your goals. More specifically, through scheduled appointments and ongoing relationship building, our coaches are available to help you with topics like: 

  • Building the skills required to accomplish your long-term college and career goals
  • Registering for classes
  • Understanding and accessing financial aid
  • Facilitating access to Emergency Fund Requests (starting July 1, 2023)
  • Navigating university portals and websites
  • Adjusting to new housing
  • Choosing a major
  • Creating and maintaining a budget
  • Managing stress and emotional distress
  • Discovering internship, work-study and career opportunities

You can focus on whatever is most meaningful to you. Whether you are facing challenges or just want to expand your college and career skills, your coach is ready to empower your success!


How do I connect with my CSF coach?

First thing’s first: you must enroll in College Services to begin working with your coach. Enrollment is now closed but will reopen on March 1, 2024.

Once you’ve enrolled, you can use our Coach Match Tool to find your coach. 

You can also visit our Team page to book an appointment with them.


Is there anything I need to do after enrolling in College Services?

Yes. While our coaches do as much as they can to get you to the finish line, we do need your participation as we collectively reach for your goals. By enrolling in College Services, you are agreeing to:

  • Stay in communication with your CSF College Coach.
    • Your CSF Coach is in your corner! They will partner with you in supporting your success in college. Please stay in communication with them and be responsive to outreach.
  • Schedule and attend at least one summer check-in meeting between July 1st – August 31st with your CSF College Coach. 
    • Your CSF College Coach will email you in late June and invite you to schedule a summer check-in meeting. Meetings can be over video chat or in-person depending on campus. 
  • Meet with your CSF Coach at least once per academic term 
  • Update your CSF Coach regarding any planned college enrollment changes including changing schools, transferring, not enrolling, etc.


How will my coach work with me?

Our coaches utilize a framework called The Seven Life Domains to guide the promotion of your success in college and in life. Within each of these domains, our coaches:

  1. Assess: Review each life domain with you  to see if you’re “on track” or “need improvement.”
  2. Prioritize: Partner with you to identify which life domain you want to improve now.
  3. Teach: Help you build skills that promote your college and career success.

Throughout the year, your coach will share resources and tools that help you build skills in each of these domains:

Education and Academics

Success in this domain means that you are making the education and academic progress required to persist from term to term.

Some goals and actions that will help ensure success in this domain include:

  • Meeting personal GPA targets
  • Making SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)
  • Using tutoring or writing centers
  • Meeting with academic advisors
  • Meeting with faculty

Finances and Employment

Adequate finances are required to pay for college, tuition, housing and other basic needs. Satisfactory academic progress is required to maintain financial aid. Employment may be required to ensure financial needs can be met throughout college. Some goals and actions that will help ensure success in this domain include:

  • Making SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)
  • On-time FAFSA completion
  • Exploring work-study or part-time jobs as needed
  • Financial planning and budgeting
  • Understanding all gift (free) financial aid available to you

Housing

All students need secure, safe, and affordable housing in order to ensure they can focus on academics and campus life. Some goals and actions that will help ensure success in this domain include:

  • Exploring housing options and selecting those that meet financial and social needs
  • Developing appropriate transportation plans based on housing selection
  • Ensuring Plan B housing options

Physical and Mental Health

Addressing new risks and challenges associated with college can be stressful. It is important to pay attention to how you feel, both physically and mentally. Some goals and actions that will help ensure success in this domain include:

  • Health insurance and regular medical check-ups
  • Identifying what on-campus counseling and emergency resources are available to you
  • Exercise and stress management techniques

Social Relationships and Connections

Social capital or networks of supportive relationships ensure we all function effectively. Some goals and actions that will help ensure success in this domain include:

  • Joining or starting an interest group or club
  • Playing a leadership role
  • Building relationships with peers and faculty who support your success

Cultural and Personal Identity

Feeling a sense of belonging in college is a challenge for many students. Self-conceptions evolve over our lives and develop based on individual life experiences. These experiences impact how we feel about “belonging” on campus. Some goals and actions that will help ensure success in this domain include:

  • Establishing personal and professional goals
  • Understanding your core values and living by them
  • Embracing your cultural, ethnic and sexual identity

Life Skills

There are many skills that are not necessarily taught in college, but are critical to success in life, including:

  • Social accountability
  • Time management
  • Planning
  • Follow through
  • Problem solving
  • Decision making
  • Conflict resolution
  • Asking for help
  • Communication and public speaking
  1. Unrau, Y.A. & Bennett, J.L. (2013). Fostering success coaching: Academic and career transformation for students from foster care. Kalamazoo, MI: The Center for Fostering Success at Western Michigan University.
  2. Casey Family Programs (2006). It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training. Author: Seattle, WA.

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